Path 2: Earn a Direct Ticket to Finale
Path 2: Earn a Direct Ticket to Finale
Path 2: Earn a Direct Ticket to Finale
Earn a Direct Ticket to Finale through standout achievements in:
Note: Open on desktop for better view
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Competitive Programming
Competitive Programming
Competitive Programming
Represent India on a global stage through elite programming competitions and open-source contributions recognised worldwide.
🏆
🏆
ACM ICPC Regionals Qualification
ACM ICPC Regionals Qualification
🎟️ DIRECT TICKET
🎟️ DIRECT TICKET
🔔
🔔
More opportunities in this category will keep being added.
More opportunities in this category will keep being added.
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Open Source Contributions
Open Source Contributions
Open Source Contributions
Making meaningful, recognised contributions to widely-used open source projects — getting your PRs merged into major repositories, becoming a maintainer, or being acknowledged as a significant contributor by a reputed open source organisation or community.
Making meaningful, recognised contributions to widely-used open source projects — getting your PRs merged into major repositories, becoming a maintainer, or being acknowledged as a significant contributor by a reputed open source organisation or community.
⭐
⭐
Selection into Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Selection into Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
🎟️ DIRECT TICKET
🎟️ DIRECT TICKET
🔔
🔔
More opportunities in this category will keep being added.
More opportunities in this category will keep being added.
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Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Getting selected into a reputed global accelerator/incubator(below table) or raising equity funding or grants for your startup from a recognised VC/Angel/Family Office. Indicative List or https://www.indianvcs.com
Getting selected into a reputed global accelerator/incubator(below table) or raising equity funding or grants for your startup from a recognised VC/Angel/Family Office. Indicative List or https://www.indianvcs.com
Category | Organization | Program Name | Program Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Global Accelerators | Y Combinator | YC Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Techstars | Techstars Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | 500 Global | 500 Global Flagship Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Andreessen Horowitz | Speedrun | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | AngelPad | AngelPad Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Berkeley SkyDeck | SkyDeck Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | SOSV | HAX / IndieBio | Deep-tech Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Entrepreneur First India | Entrepreneur First Cohort | Talent Investor / Accelerator |
India Accelerators | Peak XV Partners | Surge | Accelerator |
India Accelerators | Accel | Accel Atoms | Accelerator |
India Accelerators | Blume Ventures | Blume Founders Fund | Pre-seed Investment Fellowship |
India Accelerators | T-Hub | LAB32 | Accelerator |
India Accelerators | CIIE.CO | CIIE Accelerator | Incubation / Accelerator |
India Accelerators | NSRCEL | NSRCEL Accelerator | Incubation |
India Accelerators | Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship | SINE Incubation Program | Incubation |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Thiel Foundation | Thiel Fellowship | Fellowship / Grant |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Shark Tank India | Startup Pitch on Shark Tank | Investment Competition |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | South Park Commons India | Founder Fellowship | Fellowship / Incubation |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Antler India | Antler Residency | Fellowship / Accelerator |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Aegis School of Data Science | Aegis Graham Bell Awards | Innovation Award |
Category | Organization | Program Name | Program Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Global Accelerators | Y Combinator | YC Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Techstars | Techstars Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | 500 Global | 500 Global Flagship Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Andreessen Horowitz | Speedrun | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | AngelPad | AngelPad Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Berkeley SkyDeck | SkyDeck Accelerator | Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | SOSV | HAX / IndieBio | Deep-tech Accelerator |
Global Accelerators | Entrepreneur First India | Entrepreneur First Cohort | Talent Investor / Accelerator |
India Accelerators | Peak XV Partners | Surge | Accelerator |
India Accelerators | Accel | Accel Atoms | Accelerator |
India Accelerators | Blume Ventures | Blume Founders Fund | Pre-seed Investment Fellowship |
India Accelerators | T-Hub | LAB32 | Accelerator |
India Accelerators | CIIE.CO | CIIE Accelerator | Incubation / Accelerator |
India Accelerators | NSRCEL | NSRCEL Accelerator | Incubation |
India Accelerators | Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship | SINE Incubation Program | Incubation |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Thiel Foundation | Thiel Fellowship | Fellowship / Grant |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Shark Tank India | Startup Pitch on Shark Tank | Investment Competition |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | South Park Commons India | Founder Fellowship | Fellowship / Incubation |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Antler India | Antler Residency | Fellowship / Accelerator |
Fellowships / Awards / Competitions | Aegis School of Data Science | Aegis Graham Bell Awards | Innovation Award |
🔔
🔔
More opportunities in this category will keep being added.
More opportunities in this category will keep being added.
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Research & Academia
Research & Academia
Research & Academia
Getting a research paper accepted at a reputed international conference or journal, or earning a significant academic distinction in the field of AI, CS, or related disciplines.
Getting a research paper accepted at a reputed international conference or journal, or earning a significant academic distinction in the field of AI, CS, or related disciplines.
✍️
✍️
Specific qualifying conferences, journals, and criteria will be announced soon.
Specific qualifying conferences, journals, and criteria will be announced soon.
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Content Creation
Content Creation
Content Creation
Building a credible, high-impact tech-focused presence — whether through videos, writing, or community building — that demonstrates real influence and reach in the developer or AI ecosystem.
Building a credible, high-impact tech-focused presence — whether through videos, writing, or community building — that demonstrates real influence and reach in the developer or AI ecosystem.
✍️
✍️
Qualifying platforms, follower/engagement thresholds, and more details will be announced soon.
Qualifying platforms, follower/engagement thresholds, and more details will be announced soon.
Note:
Note:
Note:
The "Ticket to Finale" is awarded to a specific individual and is strictly non-transferable. It cannot be shared with, passed on to, or redeemed by any other student or party under any circumstance.
Achievements occurring between Feb 2026 to Feb 2027 will be considered eligible for a "Ticket to Finale".
A maximum of two co-founders from the same startup will be awarded a "Ticket to Finale" under the Entrepreneurship category. Additional co-founders or team members from the same startup will not be eligible under this path, irrespective of their individual contributions.
IMPORTANT: Programme subject to institutional policies, regulations, travel conditions, and operational feasibility. NIAT reserves the right to determine final participation.